Change your display name in Gmail settings

Your Gmail display name is what appears in the "From" field when you send an email. To change it, open Gmail and click the gear icon in the top right corner, then select See all settings. Go to the Accounts and Import tab. Under "Send mail as," you'll see your current name next to your email address. Click Edit info next to it, type your new name in the box, and click Save changes.

The change takes effect when ready for new emails you send. People who receive your messages will see the new name in their inbox. Emails you sent before the change will still show your old name, since those messages are already in their recipients' accounts.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Gmail display name (what shows in the "From" field) is separate from your Google Account name and can be changed without affecting your email address.
  • The display name change happens in Gmail settings under Accounts and Import, not in your broader Google Account settings.
  • You can have multiple display names if you use "Send mail as" to manage different email addresses from the same Gmail account.
  • Changing your display name does not affect your password, recovery email, or any other account security settings.

Understand the difference between display name and account name

Gmail has two separate names that can confuse people. Your display name is what recipients see in the "From" line of your emails — this is what you change in Gmail settings. Your Google Account name is the name tied to your entire Google account (Gmail, Drive, Photos, etc.) and is changed in different settings.

If you want to change the name associated with your entire Google Account — the one that appears in Google Drive files, YouTube, and other Google services — you need to go to myaccount.google.com, click Personal info, and edit your name there. That change affects all Google services, not just Gmail. Most people only need to change their Gmail display name, which is the faster option.

Add or change a secondary "Send mail as" address

If you have multiple email addresses or want to send from a different name, Gmail lets you add them as secondary addresses. In Gmail settings under Accounts and Import, click Add another email address you own. Enter the name you want to display and the email address, then Gmail will send a confirmation code to that address. Once you confirm it, you can switch between display names when composing emails by clicking the "From" dropdown.

This is useful if you manage work and personal email from one Gmail inbox, or if you've changed your name and want to send from both the old and new versions temporarily. Each address can have its own display name, and you choose which one to use for each email you send.

Verify the change worked

After you save your new display name, send a test email to yourself or a trusted contact to confirm the change appears correctly. Open the email and look at the "From" field — it should show your new name. If you still see the old name, wait a few minutes and try again, as the change sometimes takes a moment to sync across Gmail's servers.

If you're using multiple "Send mail as" addresses, make sure you're selecting the correct one from the dropdown when you compose. The dropdown appears just below the "To" field when you start typing a new email.

Common mistakes to avoid

The most common mistake is changing your name in Google Account settings (myaccount.google.com) when you only wanted to change your Gmail display name. The Account settings change affects your entire Google profile, not just email. If you only want to change what shows in the "From" line of your emails, stay in Gmail settings under Accounts and Import.

Another mistake is assuming the change applies to old emails. Once an email is sent and delivered, the recipient's copy keeps the name that was on it at the time of sending. Only new emails going forward will show your new display name. Also, if you use Gmail on your phone, the app may cache the old name for a few minutes — refresh the app or sign out and back in if you don't see the change when ready.

What happens if you forget your display name

You can always check what display name is currently set by going back to Gmail settings, Accounts and Import tab, and looking at the "Send mail as" section. It lists every name you've set up and which one is your default. If you have multiple names set up and can't remember which is which, you can delete unused ones by clicking the dropdown arrow next to each address and selecting Delete.

If you delete a "Send mail as" address by mistake, you can add it back by following the same steps to add a secondary address. Gmail will recognize it as one you've used before and won't require re-verification if it's an address you own.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing my Gmail display name change my email address?

No. Your email address (the part before @gmail.com) stays the same. Only the name that appears in the "From" field of your emails changes. People still send emails to your original address — the display name is just what they see when they open your message.

Can I have different display names for different contacts?

Gmail does not let you set different names for different recipients. Everyone who receives your email sees the same display name. However, you can use the "Send mail as" feature to switch between multiple names for different purposes — for example, sending as "Jane Smith" for work and "Jane S." for personal emails.

Will my contacts' phones update to show my new name?

It depends on their phone and email app. Some phones and apps update contact names automatically when they receive a new email from you. Others keep the old name until the contact is manually updated. The safest approach is to let important contacts know you've changed your display name.

What if I change my name but Gmail still shows the old one?

Wait 5 to 10 minutes for the change to sync. If it still shows the old name, sign out of Gmail completely, close your browser, and sign back in. On phones, force-close the Gmail app and reopen it. If the problem persists after that, try the change again in a different browser.

Can I change my display name back to what it was before?

Yes, anytime. Go back to Gmail settings, Accounts and Import, click Edit info, and type your old name. There is no limit to how many times you can change it. Gmail keeps no history of previous names, so you can switch back and forth without any record.